Malloy Proposes More Funding for Low-Performing Schools

The plan creates a partnership with 30 lowest-performing districts.

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Governor Malloy is proposing additional funding for low-performing school districts that work with the state to reform education.

Updated at 10:30 AM EDT on Wednesday, Feb 8, 2012

Hours before delivering his state of the state address, Gov. Dannel Malloy is proposing an additional $50 million in Educational Cost Sharing to benefit low-performing school districts.

The proposal Malloy released on Wednesday provides nearly $40 million for newly-established Alliance Districts, made up of the state’s 30 lowest-performing school districts.

Those districts would participate in a Performance Alliance between these districts and the State and must submit a reform plan, which the State Department of Education would consider these plans for approval.

The other $4.5 million in competitive funding would be offered to all districts, with the preference going to the 30 alliance districts.

“It is critical that we get to the schools that are really struggling—and do it quickly,” Malloy said. “We can get good teachers into classrooms, and hire the best superintendents and administrators, but we must address the overarching resources issue and fund the programs that will directly reach the kids who are at a disadvantage because their school is underperforming. We have held towns harmless, no one is losing ECS funding—which sends a clear signal to our children that we will make the investment and deliver on our promise of high-quality education for every student in Connecticut.”

Malloy said that 130 towns will receive more ECS funding than they did in 2011-2012 under his proposal and no town would see funding drop from 2011-2012 levels.
His plan also includes a new, more current child poverty measure takes into account updated median household income data.